HORSE and pig owners are urged to protect their animals from mosquito-borne illnesses this summer after recent heavy rain and flooding.
Victoria’s chief veterinary officer Dr Graeme Cooke said bite prevention and mosquito control were the key to keeping animals free from mosquito-borne diseases including Japanese encephalitis (JE), Ross River fever, Murray Valley encephalitis and West Nile virus.
“It is reasonable to anticipate that JE may again affect livestock in Victoria, however, there have been no reported animal cases in Victoria since pig cases were seen last summer,” he said.
Agriculture Victoria said the most common signs of Japanese encephalitis in pigs are mummified and stillborn or weak piglets, some with neurological signs.
It said very young piglets might exhibit signs of central nervous system disease, however, the majority of pigs would appear unaffected.
Agriculture Victoria said there was no risk of Japanese encephalitis virus spreading directly from pigs to people or humans getting sick from eating pig meat.
Horses may show no signs of illness from arbovirus infections, but Agriculture Victoria said these diseases could present with fever, loss of appetite, jaundice, lethargy, neurological or musculoskeletal signs such as staggering, incoordination, weakness and depression.
Agriculture Victoria said Hendra virus infection must always be ruled out in cases of neurological disease in horses.
Dr Cooke said horse owners could protect their animals by rugging and hooding them to prevent bites and stabling them between dusk and dawn, as the mosquito most likely to carry diseases of concern is a night-time feeder that stays outdoors.
He said reducing mosquito breeding sites by removing stagnant water or fixing dripping or leaking taps and water troughs, was also said to be critical in reducing the risks of arbovirus.
“Where it’s not possible to fully eliminate breeding sites, people should treat them with an appropriately registered larvicide,” Dr Cooke said.
Animal owners suspecting JE, Hendra and West Nile virus clinical disease should notify their vet or the Agriculture Victoria Animal Health and Welfare team, the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline 1800 675 888 or the Notify Now App.
People with increased exposure to mosquitoes may be at a higher risk of infection, particularly people working or living on or near pig farms.
